Former Anthrax and current Armored Saint frontman John Bush recently addressed rumors about his vocal approach on the new Armored Saint album ‘Emotion Factory Reset’ during an interview with The CMS Metal Show.
Bush was asked directly about reports suggesting that many of his vocals on the record were essentially demo takes that weren’t re-recorded for the final version.
“Yeah, it’s funny. I’ve done a bunch of interviews in the last couple days and a lot of people keep bringing that up,” Bush responded. “And it’s really not that different from what we did on the last couple records we put out.”
The vocalist explained his recording philosophy and approach to capturing vocal performances.
“When I go in and sing these parts, I want to sing them to the best of my ability. I’m not just going in and putting ideas down,” he said. “I that would be way to do something, but that’s not how we do it. So I go in and you know, I kind of approach it like I’m making a record.”
Bush elaborated on the spontaneous nature of vocal recording and why certain takes become irreplaceable.
“And when it comes to vocals, like guitar leads, things like that, when you sing, sometimes you may sing it a certain way that you never really sing it the same. Maybe it’s a certain nuance in your voice at that that day. Maybe I’m a little raspy like I am today. Maybe you’re, who knows, maybe you’re feeling more enthusiastic than you were the previous,” he continued.
“So I think that capturing that moment is important, you know. You may go back, or a lot of times we go back and we repair something cuz a you’re just trying to figure out what you’re doing on that particular demo. So you’re not quite sure and then you kind of realize, ‘Oh, this is how I want to approach this.’ So then you want to re-sing it, but a lot of the times you just sing something and it just has such a vibe that you’re like, that’s the part, you know, that’s it. Sounds great. So that’s what we did and that’s what we’ve done.”
Bush’s comments come as Armored Saint prepares for the release of their highly anticipated ninth studio album. This represents another significant milestone in the band’s four-decade career.
Metal Blade Records confirmed that ‘Emotion Factory Reset’ is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026. The album features 11 tracks including “Close to the Bone,” “Every Man-Any Man,” “Not on Your Life,” and “Hit a Moonshot.” The album was produced by bassist Joey Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston. Paul Logus handled mastering at PLX Mastering.
This latest release follows the band’s 2020 album ‘Punching the Sky’. It marks their ninth full-length studio album since 1984’s ‘March of the Saint’. The recording process involved engineering by Oliver Roman, Bill Metoyer, Joey Vera, and Jason Constantine. This showcases the collaborative effort behind the album’s production.
For collectors and vinyl enthusiasts, Metal Planet Music noted that a limited edition hand-numbered Citrine vinyl version is available as a Boone’s Overstock exclusive. Only 300 units were produced. Pre-orders also offer instant streaming access to two tracks via Bandcamp in high-quality 24-bit/48kHz format.
The album represents Armored Saint’s continued evolution in heavy metal. The band emphasizes dynamic songwriting and a modern yet gritty sound that builds upon their decades of experience in the genre. Bush’s approach to vocal recording, as described in his recent interview, reflects the band’s commitment to capturing authentic performances. These performances maintain the raw energy and spontaneity that has defined their sound throughout their career.
